Supplementary letter device for typewriters



Feb. 24, 1953 H. SIMON SUPPLEMENTARY LETTER DEVICE FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed June 3, 1948 I 11 .lllll.

JNVEN TOR.

HENRY SIMON ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 24, 1953 OFFICE SUPPLEMENTARY LETTER DEVICE FOR- TYPEWRITERS' Henry Simon, Brooklyn, N...Y. Applicati'on-Junefl, 1948,, Serial No. 30,853 llclaims; (oust-3r) This invention relates to typewriters and the elements thereof;

An object of the invention is to provide an improved form of typewriter in which some type bars are provided with a plurality of type faces, so that each type bar maybe employed to print any one of a number of types;

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of typewriter type bar which is conventional in shape adjacent its proximal end, and which has atits distal end a type block with more than one type face, the type block being turnable to present any selected type face for striking against the paper overlying the platen.

A further object of the invention. is to supply letters or symbols additional to. the standard keyboard of. conventional'type-bar typewriters without increasing the number of keys.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide an improved form of typewriter construc tion of the kind described, which requires no substantialchanges in the main design of the typewriter from those conventionally used, but which enlarges the field'of use of the typewriter.

Another object of theinvention isto provide an improved typewriter type bar which. is simple indesign, includes a plurality of double-letter type faces lying in difierent planes, andt'is'inexpensive to manufacture, being'easily installed in any typewriter without structural alteration thereof, in place of one'ormore of'the type bars therein.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment'thereof' as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of'thedevice in the printing position,

Figure 2 is 'atopplan view of the device shown in Figure 1, certain ofthe parts beings'ectioned in plan as shown,

Figure 3 is a right side elevation of the device shown in Figure'2,

Figure 4 is a-plan view similar to that of Fig-e ure 2, but showing theparts in exploded relation"- ship, some parts being omitted for clarity,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a top plan-view of'the tyne barin idle or home position, showing-as a modifica tion, its engagement with" an automatic trip member, and

. Figure '7 is aright-sideielevation of the trip membershown in Figurezfiii In the use of typewriters, it is frequently ap parent that the standard keyboard does not have room for all the characters required by writers with specialized needs. Thus, for example, it is helpful to have, somewhere on the keyboard, a plus sign, and also an equals'sign.

In certain foreign languages, certain marks are frequently used, such as the umlaut in German, and the various accents in French. The present invention makes it possible to have on each type bar,,more than onepai'r of type faces, so that the needs'of' the writer areeasily met,

The invention makes use of the well known. principle of a type bar with a detachablehead having a revolvable or indexabletype block with four or more double-letter races, but of novel or improved construction, so that either no changes in the design ofthe'typewriter, or practically no changes, are required, and which affords'maxi mum speed and convenience in "use.

In order to understand clearly'the nature of the invention, andtheb'est means for carrying it out, referenc'e'may now be'had to the drawings, in which like numbers denote similar parts throughout the several views.

The device includes four'prin'cip'al elements, namelinithe typeblo'ck' A, thetype bar' end or carrier, B, the spindle unit C, and the index lock D. In additiomthere may. be a separate and optional part or" element; the automatic trip unit E.

Inthe drawings; typeb'lock A is'shown with four type faces I; although morefaces'may be used. Each face carries a pair of types 2, like ordin'ary'type bar'heads." At 3, type block A is flrmlyfixed'to' one end of'a spindle unit C, the end of the spindle'unit being squared oii and in serted'through' an aperture of similar shape in the type block-A, so that they will'normally' turn together:

In'that" side bearing against carrier B, type block'A has a recess'd, shown bes't'in Figure 2, fora coil springSIwhi'Ch engages with its two ends in type block-"A and carrier B, respectively, and serves to returnthe typebl'o'ck to'its initial position. Inthe'edge midway of each type face, type'block A further has-an indexmotch 6. A stop pin'l, near one corner or the type block A andextendinga short'way from its rear surface, finally, is provided to'arrest type 'blo'ck'A' on its return in the initial position:

At 8, on thefront 'surfacepf the block, the types corresponding 'to the "several faces; aremarked, so as'to readily'indicate-tothe typist, the "locations of the typesionthe fourfa'ces "of the type:

blbck i The carrier B has at its forward end an enlarged circular portion 9 with a concentric hole, to serve as bearings for the rear surface of the type block A and the spindle of unit C. At opposite points of the circular portion of the carrier B are two notches I0, corresponding to the notches 6 in block A, while extending at right angles from the end is a hook-shaped stop I l for checking the motion of index lock D.

The neck portion of carrier B is curved up or humped to miss the type guide X provided on the typewriter, and bears a spur 12 so located as to center type block A in guide X in the same way that the neck of a regular type bar centers the type. At [3, the carrier terminates in a tapered tail l4 having a tooth l designed to engage in a corresponding hole in and to locate carrier B lengthwise on type bar stub Y. Type bar stub Y forms a permanent part of the machine and resembles-the conventional type bars in all ways, except that it terminates in a bayonet seat to receive thecentral shank portion 16 of the carrier B in a snug fit.

By its bent-up tip 11, tail 14 can be lifted and disengaged from the hole in the stub Y when the device is to be removed, as in exchanging it for one with another type set.. This is thus accomplished without the use of any tools.

The spindle unit C consists of the spindle or shaft the left hand portion N3 of which carries type block A and passes through the recess 4 in the type block, where it is encircled by the spring 5. The central portion [9 is enlarged to form a circular thrust flange to prevent endwise motion of the spindle and type block.

The right hand end portion 20 of the spindle is square in cross section as best seen in Figure 3, loosely fitting a corresponding square bore of handle 2!. Index handle 2| has in its inner end a recess tightly fitting a sleeve 22 extending also through an opening in index lock D and engaging with its flanged portion under index lock D, as best seen in Figure 2. It will be seen that with this arrangement, index handle 2! with the sleeve 22 can be both turned about its axis, and/or moved endwise, that is in an-axial direction, to rotate the spindle together with type block A, and/or to raise and disengage index lock D.

Oneend of index lock D is of a U-shaped section terminating in a crimped flattened portion with a foot 23, by which it is fixedly attached to carrier B by some means such as spot-welding or the like. The central portion of the lock D is dish-shaped and fits loosely over thrust flange l9 and sleeve 22, being apertured as shown in Figure 2 to receive the sleeve 22. On two opposite sides, at points matching the notches II in carrier B, the circular portion of the index lock bears a pair of bent-down tongues 24 fitting the notches H] of the carrier and 6 in the type block.

Through the spring action of the flat portion adjoining the foot 23, the index lock D is continually under tension against carrier B, and when a type face is in position for printing, the tongues 24 extend through the guide notches in the carrier B into two of the index notches in the type block and lock it against rotation.

A projecting flared car 25 on the outer end of the index lock allows it to be disengaged, independently of handle 2!, either by the touch of a finger or by a trip device provided on the machine, to cause block A to return under the urge of coil spring 5 to the basic position fixed by stop pin 1, if the block is in any other than this basic position. The opening motion of the index look is limited to the range necessary for effect ing release, and sidewise motion is prevented, by the hook-shaped stop H on carrier B which extends through a hole 26 in the index lock.

In Figures 1, 4 and 6, the type block A is in its initial position. To write other letters or symbols, type bar Y is raised by striking the key until handle 2t can be conveniently reached. The handle 2i is then pulled outward to disengage the tongues 24 on the index lock D from the notches 6 in type block A, and the spindle is rotated by turning handle 2| until the type block is in the required position, when upon releasing the endwise pull on the spindle, the tongues 24 engage in the corresponding set of notche on block A so that no further rotation of block A can take place, and the desired letter can be printed.

Such a position is shown in Figure 3. Type block A may be left in this position, if the same letter is to be written again after the type bar has returned; or the block may be restored to the initial position by pressing index lock D outward by its ear 25, thereby disengaging the tongues 24 and causing block A to return under the tension of coil spring 5.

Automatic return of the type block to the initial position may be effected by a trip E attached to the machine bed, as seen best in Figures 6 and 7. The design of such a trip will differ with the machine to which it is applied. In all cases, it will consist of a part with a steeply inclined surface arranged to press the index lock out of engagement by ear 25 as the type bar reaches the idle position. In Figures 6 and 7, trip E consists of a slide 2'! having an upturned portion formed with an incline 28 and a body portion 29 with a slot 30, through which and a thin leaf spring 32 extend two screws 3| into the bed member Z of the machine at a point back of the type head in the home position.

The screws 3! are spaced relative to the length of the slot 29 and the device is located relative to the home position of type block A so as to enable the slide to be shifted with incline 28 into or out of reach of the flare on the car 25 of index lock D, the slide being frictionally held in either position by the action of leaf spring 32.

It will be seen that by these means, the trip can be instantly made active or inactive by shifting it forward or backward, to cause index lock D to be either automatically opened and type block A returned to the initial position, or to be left in the set position, as desired.

To exchange the device for one with another type head, which may of course also have a regular two-letter type, it is merely necessary to disengage carrier B by slightly raising tail I4, as seen in Figures 2 and 5, when the device can be withdrawn from its seat on th type bar stub and the new device slid into place.

While the four essential elements, namely the type block A, the type bar end or carrier B, the spindle unit C and the index lock D, remain in all cases, parts of these devices may be left out in certain conditions. If the device is to be used on any type bar other than the end ones, for instance, handle 2l22 may be omitted and the type head turned with the finger tips in setting it. If no importance is attached to the spring return, coil spring 5 and ear 25 on the lock D may be omitted. The use of the trip E, finally, is altogether optional.

It will accordingly be understood, that while I have described my invention in specific terms,

various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the s irit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter, a type bar, and a multiple face type block revolvably supported thereon to permit any face to be turned into position for printing, a portion adjacent the forward end of the type bar being angularly offset to prevent interference with the type centering guide of the typewriter, and having a laterally ofiset spur for centering the type block in said centering guide.

2. In a typewriter, a divided type bar comprising a base portion resembling a conventional type bar but terminating in a channeled seat lengthwise of the type bar, a head portion carrying the type and formed at its other end with a shank fitting said channeled seat, an integral tail on said shank narrower than the opening of said seat, and interlocking means on said base and head portions to register and secure said two portions in correct lengthwise relation to each other.

3, In a typewriter, a type bar having a bearing formed therein, a spindle journaled in said bearing, a type block carrying a plurality of type faces and having an opening formed therein with the spindle engaging said type block opening to carry the type block and to turn therewith, whereby upon turning the spindle, the type block is turnable therewith to bring any desired type face into printing position, handle means on said spindle, means for locking said type block in printing position, and means including resilient bias for returning said type block to initial printing position as desired.

4. The construction according to claim 3, characterized further in that said resilient means is carried jointly by said type block and said type bar.

5. The construction according to claim 3 characterized further in that said means including resilient bias includes a spring engaging said type block and said type bar and biasing said type block and spindle toward initial position, and said means for locking said type block includes an index lock carried by said type bar, and locking lugs carried by said index lock and adapted to normally engage said type block to restrain motion of said type block, said index lock being retractable out of locking position to unblock motion of said type block, whereby the type block is free to be turned to move any desired printing face into printing position.

6. The construction according to claim 5, characterized further in that an integral extension is carried by said index look, a cam member carried by the typewriter bed and having a cam surface, said cam member being adapted to be moved with its cam surface lying in the path of said index lock extension, whereby the extension engages with said cam surface and is moved thereby with the index lock to retracted position to unblock the motion of the type block, the block being then free to move under its resilient bias to return to initial position.

7. In a typewriter, a type bar having a bearing therein, a spindle journaled in said bearing, a multiple-face type block disposed on one side of the type bar, said type block being mounted on one end of said spindle, a handle co-axial with and mounted on the other end of said spindle on the opposite side of the type bar, and coacting locking means on the type block and type bar for registering and holding the type block with any face in printing position.

8. In a typewriter, a type bar having a bearing therein, a spindle journaled in said bearing, a multiple-face type block mounted on one end of said spindle, coacting locking means on the type block and type bar for registering and holding the type block with any face in the printing position, and a handle mounted on the other end of said spindle in such relation as to allow the type block to be revolved by turning said handle and the locking means to be engaged and disengaged by sliding said handle sidewise.

9. In a typewriter, a type bar with a multipleface type block adjoining one side of and revolvable around an axis normal to the type bar, a lock body disposed on the opposite side of the type bar, said lock body being movable substantially in the direction of the type block axis and guided in the type bar, and registering means on the type block for engagement by the lock body.

10. In a typewriter, a type bar with a multipleface type block revolvable around an axis normal to the type bar, a lock body for holding the type block with any face in the printing position and movable in the direction of the type block axis, a fingerhold on the lock body for manipulating said lock body, and a handle for turning the type block to bring any face into the printing position.

11. In a typewriter, a type-bar with a multipleface type block revolvable around an axis normal to the type bar and disposed on one side of the type bar, and a centering portion on said type bar and laterally offset by the amount required to center the type block in the type centering guide of the machine.

HENRY SIMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 362,496 Daw May 10, 1887 640,699 Quentell Jan. 2, 1900 879,815 Donning Feb. 18, 1908 1,120,396 Lopez Dec. 8, 1914 1,347,290 Pope July 20, 1920 1,419,182 Waldheim June 13, 1922 2,098,780 Helmond Nov. 9, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 262,069 Italy Jan. 5, 1929 

